A young Black woman who was subjected to racist abuse after being selected to lead celebrations of a Swedish festival of light in Helsinki has received an apology from the Finnish prime minister.
According to the Swedish tradition, each year a young woman or girl is chosen to represent Saint Lucia by dressing in a costume of a white gown, red waistband and crown of candles as part of the official annual festivities in Finland at the Lutheran Cathedral on 13 December to mark the shortest day according to the Julian calendar.
About 5% of people in Finland, which until 1809 was part of Sweden, speak Swedish as their native language, which is one of two national languages in the Nordic country.
Daniela Owusu, 20, who is Finnish Ghanaian, received thousands of hate messages after on Friday becoming Finland’s first Black Lucia. The organisers have reported the abuse to police and the discrimination ombudsman and are considering taking legal action.
She did get to play her part!
It’s sad that she had to go through that. I hope this doesn’t put them off other POC participants in the future.
They should just have black women in the role from now on. Maybe have black men do it too for fun.
A few decades of black people in the role exclusively should cause all the racists to stroke out and die.
I think everyone would just stop paying attention to the thing
Ehh, doubt it.
I mean if they really did that it would take away a lot of why it is followed by some beyond the Fennoswede community